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A mistrial was declared yesterday after jurors could not agree whether to convict a Circleville
man of murder in the drug-related shooting and robbery of a Pickaway County man.

Prosecutor Judy Wolford said she will again bring Brent A. Cox, 32, to trial on charges stemming
from the Oct. 12 death of 43-year-old Rodney Metcalfe at his Immel Road home, southwest of
Circleville.

Jurors found Cox not guilty of two charges of aggravated murder and one count of murder and
failed to reach a unanimous verdict on another murder count, as well as charges of aggravated
robbery and theft, Wolford said.

Jurors returned yesterday to resume deliberations that began Friday after four days of
testimony. They considered the case for nearly 12 hours.

Authorities said Metcalfe was shot once in the back of his head while opening the back door to
his home and then was robbed of cash and pain pills.

Donald R. Shepard, 46, of Circleville testified that he and Cox planned to rob Metcalfe, but he
was stunned when Cox pulled out a handgun and shot the man at nearly point-blank range. Cox’s
attorneys suggested that Shepard was the one who pulled the trigger.

In a plea arrangement in which he agreed to testify against Cox, Shepard was sentenced to 16
years in prison after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated robbery.